Wednesday, 3 June 2015

#640 The pond, con't . . . Geese - domestic and wild

Please see the previous two posts for more
information about the pond at the Wyoming studio.

Domestic geese have historically been kept as
poultry for their eggs, meat, and down. We currently have nine that we keep because they are beautiful on our
pond, they're efficient "lawnmowers" and are alert "watchdogs".
Although they're messy when they get on the deck, - as shown below - they
have become a part of our life.

Due to their upright posture, their large, heavy
body, short wings, and much of their weight being aft in spite of their large,
meaty breasts . . . domestics are flightless. Below, are images of our
geese.

A few years ago we only had four domestics and what you see below, happened.
We try to prevent more breeding and I'll keep you posted about the outcome.

The domestics routinely interact with the wild
Canada Geese on the pond during spring and summer when the wild ones are here
to nest and raise their young. While I don't understand the dynamics, the
Canadas always win and keep the larger domestics away from their young.

Below, are images of the two different species on the pond.

Below, is an early watercolor tinted etching of domestic geese . . . created in 1978.

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This weblog is written by nationally acclaimed sculptor Sandy Scott, the focus is sculpture and is directed toward collectors, galleries, students and those who love art. Words and pictures intertwine to reveal both the substance and style of a figurative wildlife artist who lives the life she depicts. It is a learning tool and a profile of a successful artist that connects the reader to studio procedures, field study and how an artist works. You can contact Sandy Scott in the blog comments or in Facebook.